It’s summertime, which means it’s time to get outside and enjoy the beautiful sunshine and hot weather. Summer is the perfect time to reconnect with family, friends, and even yourself (a good vacation can do wonders for your health)! But there’s one thing that summer is not too kind to — your jewelry.
Unfortunately, all the excitement and adventures of summer can wreak havoc on your jewelry, exposing it to harsh elements and unsafe conditions. Things like sunscreen, sand, and especially pool water all affect your jewelry’s durability and cleanliness. Even traveling with your jewelry can pose certain risks. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to protect your jewelry this summer. Read on to see our top tips for keeping your jewelry safe and shining bright all summer long.
How to Protect Your Jewelry While Soaking Up the Sun
Whether you’re a beach bum or more of a lake lover, the beautiful weather and adventures of summer can expose our jewelry to harsh elements or the risk of loss that can quickly put a damper on the fun. Aside from the daily activities that can damage your jewelry, summertime specifically poses certain risks to the safety and quality of your precious jewelry.
Beaches, Pools, and Lakes – Oh My!
One of the best places to be during the summer is on the water. But beaches, pools, and lakes are notorious as places where jewelry is most often lost, damaged, or dirtied. If your jewelry slips off in a pool, you may be able to recover it if it doesn’t get pulled into a drain. But if it comes off in the ocean or a lake, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll ever find it in the depths of the ocean waves or deep murky waters. Cold waters are even more dangerous because they can make your fingers shrink, which causes rings to slip off easily.
Brittany’s highly recommends protecting your jewelry by taking it off before entering the water this summer. Ensuring that the jewelry is kept in a safe, dry place away can mean the difference between wearing your jewelry again or losing it forever.
Chlorine
In Florida, you can’t travel far without seeing or spending time in a pool. The biggest culprit of summer jewelry damage is chlorine. Many pools have this chemical additive to keep the water safe for swimmers, but unfortunately for your jewelry, it causes significant damage and discoloration to precious metals. Precious gemstones like diamonds can also be affected – chlorine can remove the finish and polish, resulting in a dull and dark appearance.
Sand and Saltwater
Beaches aren’t much better for your jewelry because saltwater and sand are notorious for damaging and discoloring metals. Rose gold, in particular, is highly susceptible to discoloration in saltwater as it is an alloy containing gold and copper. Sand from beaches and lakes can damage your jewelry, too. Sand is highly abrasive and can scratch precious metals. Plus, it can loosen stones by becoming lodged in your jewelry’s settings. What a nightmare! If this happens to you, Brittany’s can tighten stones and repair damage that has occurred.
Buildup
When heading outdoors this summer, protect yourself from mosquitoes by using bug spray. But be careful – bug spray and jewelry don’t quite mix. Buildup from bug spray can quickly transform your sparkling jewelry into dull and dim pieces. If this has happened to you, don’t fret! We recommend a professional cleaning to shine, polish, and perfect.
In addition to bug spray, sunscreen can also cause nasty buildup. While it is important to protect your skin from harmful UV rays, applying or wearing sunscreen while donning your fine jewelry is highly discouraged.
If you find yourself in need of frequent cleanings from buildup over the summer, do your jewelry a favor and simply take it off when you know you’ll be wearing bug spray or sunscreen.
On-the-Go
Traveling is the best part of summer for many, but it can be the worst for your jewelry. When deciding what to pack, consider all the possibilities. Below are some tips to keep in mind before hitting the road or tarmac.
Travel Wisely
First things first — consider whether or not you want to bring precious jewelry on your journeys. Traveling comes with the risk of misplacing or losing items along the way. When choosing your trip outfits, try to pick jewelry that goes well with most or all of your ensembles. Minimizing how much jewelry you bring along reduces the risk of anything going wrong.
If you do decide to pack all of your jewelry, resist the temptation to place all of your pieces in one bag. Instead, prevent avoidable damage by packing jewelry individually. Some stones and materials are much more durable than others, and packing them all together may cause harder stones like diamonds to scratch softer materials like gold, pearls, or opals. For a more in-depth look at how to store your jewelry both home and away, check out our 3 best tips.
Secure Precious Jewelry
Never put your jewelry in checked bags! If your jewelry holds monetary or sentimental value to you, plan on storing it securely in a carry-on bag to ensure its safe arrival to your destination. After all, checked bags sometimes do get lost — sometimes indefinitely.
When you’ve arrived at your destination, store your jewelry in a safe whenever possible. Never leave your jewelry out in the open for others to handle, misplace, or steal. Bring along a portable safe, if you must.
As an added layer of protection and peace of mind, you may consider jewelry insurance. Jewelry insurance can’t protect the sentimental value of your pieces, but it can protect their monetary value if ever lost or stolen. If you have questions about jewelry insurance or need an appraisal, we can help guide you through the decision-making process as well as appraise your jewelry.
Keep Your Jewelry Shining Summer After Summer
When it comes to keeping your jewelry sparkling and safe, Brittany’s is here to help! With complimentary jewelry cleaning and inspections, you can rest easy knowing that your jewelry is in good hands. Routine care and maintenance can help you spot any extra attention your piece may require to restore it to mint condition. At Brittany’s Fine Jewelry, we have over 35 years of experience in the industry and are a trusted source in caring for your fine jewelry.
Posted On August 18, 2021
